At this stage of the production, the electrode groups that we have learned to model previously, are placed in a plastic battery case, which then will be filled with acid. The exact number of groups inside the case depends on the battery's intended capacity. We will now model the assembly of electrode groups into the battery case with the help of an industrial crane.
First, we will create a new material agent type to represent the battery.
Add a new material item type
a.
Length:
0.3 meter
b.
Width:
0.2 meter
c.
Height:
0.15 meter
Next,
let's add the layout for this section of the production line: a
conveyor, where the electrode groups are put into the battery cases,
and the crane that carries the groups over from the buffer zone.
a.
Material item type:
Battery
b.
Maximum speed:
0.5 meters per second
c.
Initial speed:
0.5 meters per second
d.
Z:
20
e.
Width:
0.5 meter
We will use this element to mark the exact point on the conveyor where the electrode groups must be placed inside the battery case.
a.
Visible:
no
b.
Locations layout:
Arranged.
a.
Material item type:
BatteryBlock
b. In the
Position and size
section specify
Jib length:
3 meter
and
Crane height:
4 meter.
Select the
Blocked zone
check-box and adjust its angle by dragging the handles until the blocked zone looks as displayed in the image below:
Now let's define the logic behind this production step.
Add the battery assembly logic to the flowchart
This block will serve to generate agents of the
Battery
type.
a.
Arrivals defined by:
Rate
b.
Arrival rate:
10 per hour
c.
Location of arrival:
Network/GIS node
d.
Node:
caseBuffer
e.
New agent:
Battery
We use this block to model the the battery cases waiting to be used in the buffer zone.
a.
Capacity:
25
b.
Agent location:
caseBuffer.
a.
Entry point defined as:
Position on conveyor
b.
Position on conveyor:
blockInputPosition
a.
Crane:
batteryBlockCrane
b.
Destination is:
Agent
c.
Loading time:
5 seconds
d.
Unloading time:
5 seconds
This function returns the agent that is currently located at the blockInputPosition point.
Inevitably, an error will occur when the crane attempts to transfer electrode groups to an absent battery case. We can solve this problem with the help of the Process Modeling Library.
Synchronize the group assembly process and the battery case preparation
This block will help us control the flow of electrode groups: we will stop the flow until a new battery case becomes available.
Now the hold block's unblock() function will be called every time when a battery case enters the conveyor where the crane must place electrode groups inside it. For the rest of the time the movement of electrode groups will be blocked.
Reference model:
Lead Acid Battery Production - Phase 4
Phase 3. Electrodes wrapping and group assembly